21. Which country has carried out the first nationwide test of its civil alarm systems?
[A] United States
[B] Russia
[C] Germany
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Germany]
Notes:
Germany has recently carried out the first nationwide test of its civil alarm systems since the end of the Cold War.
The country has also newly created National Warning Day, or Warntag, which is to be observed every year on September 10. Several alarms were sounded to alert the public to create the awareness about the measures to be taken in the backdrop of a national emergency.
22. Who has been elected as the new head of the Japan’s ruling party?
[A] Yoshihide Suga
[B] Shinzo Abe
[C] Kazushige Ugaki
[D] Tanaka Giichi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Yoshihide Suga]
Notes:
Yoshihide Suga has been elected as the new head of Japan’s ruling party. It is almost certain that he would be the next Prime Minister of Japan.
Last month, the incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation for reasons of ill health. Yoshihide Suga is said to be a close ally of Mr Abe and likely to continue his predecessor’s policies.
23. The new Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, introduced by the government empowers RBI to restructure which type of institutions?
[A] Foreign Banks
[B] Cooperative banks
[C] Nidhi Companies
[D] Chit Funds
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cooperative banks]
Notes:
The new Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, introduced by the government empowers RBI to restructure Cooperative banks.
The bill was tabled on the first day of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The bill which came in the form of ordinance was earlier withdrawn. Under this amendment, the Reserve Bank of India can restructure distressed cooperative banks.
24. Which bill, that has been passed in Rajya Sabha, seeks to convert aviation agencies like DGCA, BCAS and AAIB into statutory bodies?
[A] Aircraft (Amendment) Bill 2020
[B] Aviation Sector (Amendment) Bill 2020
[C] Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill 2020
[D] Air Transport (Amendment) Bill 2020
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Aircraft (Amendment) Bill 2020]
Notes:
The Rajya Sabha has recently passed the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill 2020, which was tabled by Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri
The bill has already been cleared by the Lok Sabha in March this year. It seeks to convert aviation agencies like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil aviation security (BCAS) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into statutory bodies. It also proposes heavy punishment for violations.
25. Which organization has ruled that US tariff barriers in Chinese goods is inconsistent with trading rules?
[A] UNECOSOC
[B] UNESCO
[C] WTO
[D] FAO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [WTO]
Notes:
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that tariff barriers (additional tariffs) imposed by USA in 2018 on Chinese goods is inconsistent with international trading norms.
This has come as a severe blow to the US administration. The ruling was pronounced by a 3-member panel of WTO, against the USD 200 billion in levies imposed by USA on a range of Chinese goods in 2018.
26. Which Britain tennis player has been given a wildcard to French Open 2020?
[A] Andy Murray
[B] Roger Federer
[C] Nikola Mektic
[D] Novak Djokovic
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Andy Murray]
Notes:
Britain’s Andy Murray who is former world number has been given a wildcard entry into the main draw of French Open.
This year’s French Open first round begins on 27th September. Murray is a three-time Grand Slam winner and a French Open finalist. He has not appeared at the event since 2017, when he lost to Stan Wawrinka.
27. As per the Draft Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 released by the Power Ministry, what is the time line for providing a new connection in metro cities?
[A] 7 days
[B] 10 days
[C] 14 days
[D] 21 days
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [7 days]
Notes:
A draft of Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020 has been prepared by the Ministry of Power for the first time.
As per the regulations, the time period to provide new electricity connection and modify existing connection in metro cities is not more than 7 days and in rural areas is not more than 30 days.
28. What is OECD’s revised economic growth forecast for India for the current financial year?
[A] – 9%
[B] -10.2%
[C] -11.2%
[D] -15.2%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [-10.2%]
Notes:
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has revised India’s growth projections to minus 10.2% for the current financial year.
This is due to extended lockdown in the country. The OECD released a report titled “Interim Economic Assessment Corona virus: Living with uncertainty”. As per the report, prolonged spread of the virus, high levels of poverty, and stricter confinement measures are the reasons for contraction of the Indian Economy.
29. In which forum was the ‘Global Initiative to reduce Land Degradation’ launched recently?
[A] UN ECOSOC
[B] G20 Environment Ministerial Meeting
[C] BRICS Environment Ministerial Meeting
[D] UNFCCC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [G20 Environment Ministerial Meeting]
Notes:
The Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation was launched in the G 20 – Environment Ministerial Meeting (EMM) that was held in a virtual mode under the leadership of Saudi Arabia.
It aims to strengthen the implementation of existing guidelines on prevention of land degradation among the G20 member countries. In addition to the initiative on land degradation, the Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform was also launched which aims at R&D in all aspects of Coral Reef.
30. Who served as the RBI governor for the shortest tenure, who has recently passed away?
[A] Asit Bandopadhyay
[B] Amitabha Ghosh
[C] Ashok Gasti
[D] B. Babusivan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Amitabha Ghosh]
Notes:
Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Amitabha Ghosh has recently passed away at the age of 90.
He had the shortest stint as the RBI Governor for 21 days, from January 15, 1985 to February 4, 1985. He was earlier serving as a Deputy Governor of RBI. He handed over the designation to the 17th RBI Governor R N Malhotra.